Today in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates

Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can.

New and Notable Apps

Macrocosm [iOS Universal; $0.99] The player controls a black distorted dot – black matter – in a top-down view. The challenges include moving around planets with a gravitational pull and avoiding forces of evil that try to damage you.

Sonic Jump Fever [iOS Universal; Free] Prepare to feel the FEVER in an explosive race against the clock! Join Sonic and friends in high-speed bursts of vertical jumping mayhem.

Updates you don't want to miss

Angry Birds Star Wars II [iOS Universal; Free] Get ready to MASTER YOUR DESTINY! Start as a Jedi Youngling or Sith Hopeful and rise the ranks in this all-new chapter! Version 1.6 brings the following changes:

15 NEW BIRD SIDE LEVELS! To become a Jedi Knight needs discipline!

15 NEW PORK SIDE LEVELS! Dark is the path to becoming a Sith Knight!

NOW FREE! Download for free on iOS.

Plague Inc. [iOS Universal; $0.99] Can you infect the world? Plague Inc. is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Version 1.9 brings the following changes:

Special Simian Flu expansion pack added from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, in partnership with 20th Century Fox.

Performance improvements for all devices

Minor game balance / AI improvements / bug fix

Pushover Notifications [iOS Universal; Free] Pushover is a simple push notification service that integrates easily into web apps like IFTTT, network monitoring systems, shell scripts, and more. Version 2.2.1 brings the following changes:

Add in-app purchase for new licensing (existing users will have their licenses automatically imported)

Add setting to auto-open supplementary URLs of messages when their notifications are swiped on from Notification Center

More efficient message syncing

Bugfixes, including a crash-on-open in 2.2

Tengami [iOS Universal; $1.99] Tengami is an atmospheric adventure game set inside a Japanese pop-up book. Version 1.2 brings the following changes: